On July 1st, 2021, Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana released a statement in support of former President Donald Trump, following the indictment of the Trump Organization and its CFO, Allen Weisselberg, on charges of tax fraud and grand larceny. Banks called the indictment a flimsy and despicable example of political persecution. Banks, who is the chairman of the Republican Study Committee, went on to say that the indictment was nothing more than a politically motivated attack on a private citizen who happens to be a former president. He also accused the Manhattan District Attorney's office of weaponizing the justice system to go after Trump and his associates. While it is not surprising that Banks would come out in support of Trump, his comments are indicative of a larger trend within the Republican Party. Many GOP lawmakers have been quick to defend Trump and his allies in the wake of the indictment, with some even going so far as to call for the charges to be dropped. This is not the first time that Banks has come to Trump's defense. In January of 2021, he was one of the 147 Republicans who voted to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, despite there being no evidence of widespread voter fraud. Banks' comments also highlight the growing divide between the two major political parties in the United States. While Democrats have largely condemned Trump and his actions, Republicans have continued to support him, even in the face of mounting evidence of wrongdoing. It remains to be seen how the Trump Organization indictment will play out in the courts, but one thing is clear: the political fallout from this case will be felt for years to come. As the country becomes increasingly polarized, it is likely that we will continue to see more instances of politicians putting party loyalty above the rule of law.